Day trips / Hike / Bear Mountain
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Bear Mountain
A great hike you can reach by train: a steep climb above the Hudson to a stone tower and one of the best views an hour from the city.
- Where
- Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY 10911 Open in Google Maps ↗
- Getting there
- On weekends, Metro-North's Hudson Line stops at Manitou, then it's about 2.5 miles over the Bear Mountain Bridge. Or ride to Peekskill and take a taxi across the river.
- Also called
- Bear Mountain State Park · Major Welch Trail
- Price
- Free on foot, $10 to park
- Get
- The Major Welch Trail up · Perkins Memorial Tower at the summit · A lap of Hessian Lake after
- Go when
- An early start on a clear fall day
- Good for
- Hiking · Hudson views · Fall foliage · A real workout
- Good with
- Solo · Groups
- Website
- parks.ny.gov
Bear Mountain is a great hike, and the best part is that you can get there by train. A little over an hour up the Hudson and you’re climbing a real mountain, with the river far below and the Bear Mountain Bridge stretched across it.
The classic route is the Major Welch Trail. It starts by Hessian Lake near the Bear Mountain Inn, follows the shore, then climbs steeply over rock slabs to the top, where Perkins Memorial Tower looks out over the Hudson Highlands. On a clear day you can see far down the valley. Come back down on the Appalachian Trail, which crosses the mountain here, and finish with a lap of the lake.
What to know
The Major Welch Trail is steep and rocky near the top, so wear proper shoes and bring water. Plan on a few hours for the loop. Walking in costs nothing; driving in means a $10 parking fee.
By train, the closest stop is Manitou on Metro-North’s Hudson Line. Trains only stop there on weekends, and not many, so check the schedule both ways before you commit. The walk from the station crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge, which is a view in itself. The easier fallback is Peekskill, a regular stop, and a short taxi over the river, any day of the week. Start early and you’ll beat most of the crowd to the summit.
Going? Tell them MUSEENYC sent you. It's not a discount and there's nothing to redeem — we just want them to know where you heard it.